Apparatus for steeping grain.



0. WINDE.

APPARATUS FOR STEEPING GRAIN.

APPLIOATION TILED APRA. 1910.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0o 00 9n 0o no 00 0 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 120., WASHINGTON. D. c.

' O. WINDE.

APPARATUS FOR STEEPING GRAIN.

APPLICATION FILED APIM. 1910.

1,042,739. Patented 0ct.29,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CGLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH :0., WASHINGTON, D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSWALD WINDE, OF LUTZSCHENA-LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR STEEPING GRAIN.

Application filed April 4, 1910.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSWALD \VINDE, a sub j ect of the Emperor ofGermany, residing at Lutzschena -Leipzig, Germany, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Steeping Grain, of whichthe following is a specification.

The steeping of barley, wheat and other grain which is treated for themanufacture of malt, is now usually carried out in the following manner:The material to be steeped is introduced into the water contained in thesteeping tank, such water being suitably prepared if necessary, and leftthere for several days according to requirements. The water is, however,periodically removed or renewed. After each discharge of the water, thematerial to be steeped remains for some time without water in the tankwithout any treatment.

The above process has several disadvantages. During the discharge of thewater, the material, more particularly if it is in deep layers, settlesdown very firmly. The consequence is that a comparatively large quantityof water adheres to the grains and remains in the spaces between them,so that a free access of oxygen to the interior of the grains isprevented. The injurious gases such as carbon dioxid, and gases ofunpleasant smell, which collect between the grains during the steepingprocess, cannot escape when fresh water is being supplied, it becomesmixed with the old residue, whereby manifestly its action, as well asthat of oxygen, on the material is considerably weakened. Moreover,owing to the residual water and to the action of the products ofoxidation formed, more particularly when a long time elapses between thedischarge of the water and the supply of fresh water, the materialbecomes heated, inducing an irregular steeping of the grains and anunfavorable action on the subsequent growth, which results in a reducedyield of extract. It is moreover old to ventilate the material duringsteeping, chiefly with a view to insuring a uniform growth during thesubsequent germinating process, but the above explained disadvantages ofthe steeping process as hitherto practised could not and were notintended to be obviated by the same.

According to my invention, the disadvantages in question are obviated bydrawing off the injurious gases after each discharge of Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Serial No. 553,335.

the steeping water, without removing the grain from the tank or in anyway re-laying it, the grain in the steeping tank itself being dried andan injurious heating of the same during the steeping process beingavoided by exhausting the moisture. If after the drying in question,fresh water is supplied, it exercises a very favorable action on thegrains in such manner that the oxygen supplied to the grain by theentering air and by the water, after the removal of the injuriousproducts of oxidation which remained, the said air and water acting in amore energetic manner on the grains which have become dry. After thesteeping has been completed, the material is dried in a well-knownmanner.

Two constructions of the apparatus embodying my invention areillustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my apparatus, and Fig. 2 asimilar view of a modified form thereof.

The steeping tank is marked a (Fig. 1). In the central axis of the sameis arranged a pipe 7) perforated at its bottom portion and havingsecured to it roof-shaped plates 0. Into the bottom portion of the tanka opens a pipe (Z which leads to a fan a). To the pipe (Z is connected apipe 6 closed at one end by a perf rated plate f and passing at theother end into a pipe 9 leading under a cap or hood it. On the cap inquestion is arranged the pipe I). The lateral walls are also providedwith pipes 2' partly perforated and provided with roof or hoodshapedcaps 76. These pipes also lead to the lowest portion of the steepingtank. In the latter is arranged in the well known manner the valve Z fordischarging the steeped grain. Owing to the arrangement of the pipeswith the caps 0 is h, the whole of the grain to be steeped, is loosened.As soon as the water has been discharged, the fan is started. It drawsair through the pipes b 2'. The air in question can then pass throughthe perforated pipes into the grain and dry the same. The moisturetogether with the carbonic acid, etc, is drawn off by the fan at thelowest point of the steeping tank through the screen or sieve f. It willbe noted that the perforations b and z" in the ventilating pipes b and iare arranged under the hood-shaped caps or fenders, c and 70,respectively. Therebya pack ing of the grain around and against theperforations is prevented and a perfect ventilation assured.

In order to enable the steeping apparatus to be easily cleaned, the pipe6 is suspended to a pin m and can be turned about the said pin as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1. The cap it can also be folded.

Fig. 2 shows a modified construction. The conical extension 71- ismounted directly on the pipe 7). In the said extension is aranged at acertain distance the hood 0 into which air under pressure can beintroduced by means of a pipe 7). In the wall of the hood there is aslot Q. The hood is further divided by av transverse partition 1" whichcan be also made of a perforated plate. From the pipe 29 branches a pipe8 leading to an exhauster.

At each discharge of the steeping water, the moisture and the productsof oxidation collect under the roof-shaped extension 0, moreparticularly under the hood 0, and are then drawn off upward by means ofthe pipe Z) as well as downward by means of the pipe 8, until they havebeen completely removed. T he steeping water is then introduced again,and compressed air admitted through the pipe 79 into the hood 0. Thesaid air passes in pulsation through the slot Q, presses the barley withthe steeping water through the pipe 6 upward and thus brings about acirculation of the barley and of the steeping water, as they are pumpedover. in order to render complete circulation possible, the pipe 7) isprovided with bent pipes t.

The arrows shown in full lines in the drawing, indicate the path. of themoisture and of the products of oxidation during the exhausting of thesame and of the gases drawn off through pipe 8, while the arrows drawnin dotted lines indicate the path of the barley and of the steepingwater raised by the compressed air.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In an apparatus for steeping grain, a

closed-bottom-tank, a ventilating pipe ar ranged in the same andprovided at its bottom with a conical enlargement open at the bottom andwith perforations along its in termediate portions, and fenders orcapshaped projections extending over the said perforations, incombination with an airfeeding or exhausting hood fitting loosely in thesaid conical enlargement and provided with a slot opening into theenlargement and means for feeding or exhausting air to or from saidhood.

2. Apparatus for use in steeping grain consisting in a tank having aclosed-bottom and adapted to contain water and grain, means forwithdrawing and renewing said water periodically, means comprisinghollow bodies provided with perforations through which the products ofoxidation together with the moisture are withdrawn from the grain aftereach discharge of the water, roof shaped projections or fenders on saidhollow bodies extending over the perforations and insuring a loosearrangement of the grain and means for introducing air to dry the grain.

8. Apparatus for use in steeping grain consisting in a tank adapted tocontain water and grain, means for withdrawing and renewing said waterperiodically, means comprising a hollow body having a conical end openat the bottom through which the products of oxidation together with themoisture are withdrawn in upward and downward direction from the grain,a conical hood with a slot therein fitting loosely in the conical end ofsaid hollow body and means for introducing compressed air into said hoodwhereby said air passes between the hood and said conical end.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSVVALD WVINDE.

Witnesses RUDOLPH Fnionn, PAUL REMEOKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

